Portable hothouse



Jan@ 9, 934 N. L. JAcoBus PORTABLE HOTHOUSE Filed Sept. 24

y lNvENToR Aff/$021 l. Jamhs ATTQRNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE HOTHOUSE Application September 24, 1932 Serial No. 634,724

1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to a temperature and moisture conditioning device for plants, and has for its main object and feature the production of what may be called a portable hothouse or greenhouse of such character that rare plants such as orchids may be grown in the ordinary living quarters of an average person. To carry out this object it is important lthat the device be artistic, or at least non-offensive, in appearance and that it shall alford full visibility of the growing plant. While this is important in the case of a decorative or rare ower, it will be understood that the device is capable of much wider use such, for instance, as is required in connection with the starting of plants or vegetables before setting them out in the open. In such cases, the artistic or decorative feature is not so important.

In accompanying drawing the invention is disclosed in a concrete and preferred form in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view on the plane of line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in section in Fig. 1 with the dome removed.

1 indicates a base constituting a lower housing 2 and an upper supporting member 3. This base is preferably a piece of moisture-proof material such as glazed terra cotta molded into the shape shown, the supporting member being provided in its upper surface with water retaining means such as the pockets or channels 4. 5 indicates air inlets or ducts perforating the supporting member and leading from the lower housing to the chamber which is formed by said supporting member and glass dome 6. This glass dome is mounted on the supporting member and encloses both the air ducts and the water retaining means, and has an air outlet 'I at its upper end. Mounted on the base and within the housing is a heat-retaining element such as asbestos plate 8, and this plate carries a heating element, represented here by lamp 9. A thermostatic switch 10 to control the heating element is conveniently mounted on the upper surface of the supporting member sov as to be responsive to temperature conditions of the device.

It will now be seen that a growing plant can be placed within the device, assuring full visibility, and that by adjusting the thermostatic switch suitable temperature and moisture conditions can be obtained. The current needed for the operation of the device can be obtained by plugging into an ordinary wall socket. The housing really constitutes a heating chamber and the heat of the lamp serves not only to evaporate the water within the upper chamber, but sets up a slow current of air which passes up through the air ducts in the supporting member and out to the air outlet 'l at the upper end of the dome. The provision of said outlet '7 also prevents condensation which would tend to 0bscure the plant. Any suitable thermostatic switch may be utilized and it will be understood that its function is to light the lamp when the temperature drops below a certain point, and to extinguish the lamp when the temperature exceeds a given point.

I claim:

A portable hothouse including: a molded waterproof base constituting a lower housing 8u' provided with an integral top having one or more air ducts extending therethrough, said top constituting a supporting member having one or more water retaining pockets in its upper surface; a removable dome resting on the upper surface aforesaid and enclosing both the air ducts and water pockets; a heating unit supported within said housing below the top vthereof; and a thermostat to control said heating unit carried by said top.

NELSON L. JACOBUS. 

